Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-11-10
CARE OF THE HAIR.
WHY WE ARE LIKELY TO BECOME
A NATION OF BALD HEADS.

An Erroneous View That Prevails-The
Bad Practice of Continually Washing
the Head-Nature's Hair OiI-Advice to
Young People
No careful observer fails to notice, Es h
looks over assemblies of men past 80 years Of
age, that a very large proportion is bald or
in state of partial badness, which indicates
the speedy loss of the hirsute appendage. The
percentage of men of all ages who show
signs of badness has been put at 80 per
cent, and by some observers as high as 20
per cent From careful observations in
churches, theatres, lecture rooms and politi-
cal assemblies we are satisfied that these esti-
mates are too high. and that % or "a per
cent is q more exact estln.v-.
JThis exhibit is alarming, as 1t indicates
that the time is near when we shall be ma
tion of bald heads, and that alopecia as =
disease will afflict the youth in our schools, as
through heredity physical deformities and
illnesses are multiplied and extended to an
enormous extent.
SECURING THE SCALP.
What is the cause of this early loss of hair?
1t is not due to the hats or caps we wear, not
to the clipping of the hair close, not to living
in hot rooms; it is not due to the forms of
foods we consume, but, in our view, it is
largely due to modern methods of treatment
of the hair and scalp. The erroneous view
prevails that the skin which holds the hair
follicles and the delicate secretory organs of
the scalp must be kept as ''clean," SO to
speak, as the face or hands; consequently
young men patronize BARRIERS or hairdressers,
and once or twice week they have what is
called shampoo" operation performed; and
this consists of thorough securing of the
hair and scalp with dilute ammonia water
and soap, so that heavy "lather" is pro-
duced, and the glandular secretions, which
are the natural protection of the hair, and
promotive of its growth, are saponifed and
removed No act could be more directly de-
sTuctive of a healthy growth of hair than
this, and no one is more common.
The practice Of frequently washing the
head in warm or cold water at home with or
without the adjuncts of soap, alcohol, am
monia or perfumery is deleterious and pro-
motive of early loss Of the hair. Men in
active indoor business-clerks, bankers, shop
keepers in cities-are continually washing the
head. Many do this night and morning, un-
der the false notion that it is necessary to
cleanliness, and promotive of vigorous
growth of hair, and when alarmed at its
rapid disappearance in early life they are at
a loss to understand the reason. The secre-
tion of wax in the ear passages is natures
method of protecting the delicate machinery
upon which hearing depends. 1t closes the
organ to the entrance of insects and dust;
and fortunately the secretion is, to a con-
siderable extent, placed beyond easy inter-
ference, and thus the sence OF hearing is pro-
tected from injurious "washouts."
NATURES HAIR OIL.
The waxy secretion which is poured out
from the glandular organs which are found
in connection with the follicles Of the hair
is natures product, and is designed to pre-
serve and protect the wonderful and beautiful
head covering. If we persist in removing it
altogether we must march with the bald pates
before the frosts of age come along to change
its color. Woman do not shampoo or wash
the hair as often as the other sex, and conse-
quently they are in large degree exempt
from badness in middle life. 1t is true, how
ever, that many women in cities make fre-
quent visits to the hairdressers, and subject
their tresses to the securing" process. If this
becomes common, it will not be long before
badness will overtake the young mothers as
well as the fathers, and the time will be
hastened when children even will have no
hair to destroy with ammonia or other caustic
cosmetics
The advice we have to offer to the young
men and maidens is, let your hair alone; keep
at a safe distance from hairdressing rooms
and drug shops, where are sold oils, alkaline
substances, alcoholic mixtures, ETC., for use
upon the hair. They are all pernicious, and
will do you harm. The head and hair may
be washed occasionally with soft, tepid water,
without soap of any kind. As rule, the
only appliances needed in the care Of the hair
are good combs and brushes and they should
not be used harshly, so as to wound the scalp.
Avoid all "electric" and wire made brushes.
No electricity can be stored in hair brush /;
if it could be, it is not needed. The hair is a
beautiful gift of nature, and it must not be
destroyed Science News.